How long can a plane keep flying??

How long can a plane keep flying??

¿Bye withándo can a planeón keep flying? Not everything depends on theñin aircraft service, but alsoén, of flight cycles and other factors. Photo the SilverWingPix.

Like the great majoríto of mámachines of the world, Planes cannot fly the skies of the world forever and they have a life úuseful that is generally fulfilled at 30 añyou since your first flight, but as we have seen, the age of a birdón does not determine your safety, otherwise, the responsibility with which it is operated.

¿Cuáhow long can they fly?, ¿thaté It is done with airplanes that have already reached their end of life. úto? All these and máWe will answer your questions in this new publication.ón.

¿Bye withándo can a planeón keep flying?

And tégeneral terms, I saw oneón is “operable” for approximately 30 añthose before it should be withdrawn, the exact lifespan of an avión varies from model, tipo de operationón, añor manufacturingón, cycles, etc.

The planes each 6 a 8 añThey must be subjected to what is called D check, which is a deep maintenance where the aircraftón es prápractically disassembled in its entirety, inspected deeply in the búsearch for structural failures, cracks and others that could put the operation at risk.ón.

This maintenance mayíto allow airplanes that have met más de 30 añthose of service, but what toún have cycles available keep flying. The limitation is the high cost of this maintenance work, which may require several million dóhomes, which often does not justify the investmentón for the aerolíneas o dueñand these prefer to advance the jubilariansón of their planes to make way for new teams.

On other occasions, planes are grounded not because of their age or cycles, but alsoén by economic measuresóaerosol micasílines to give way to airplanesás efficient in fuel consumption and operating costs.

flight cycles

One of the main measures to determine that an aircraftón can continue flying are what are known as cycles, that in youéIn general terms, it means the number of times an aircraftóA commercial plane is pressurized and depressurized on each flight.

For instance, a boeing 747 can operate approx. 35.000 cycles of pressurizations or flights, which is roughly between 135 what a 165 thousand hours of flight during his life úuseful until material fatigue is reached.

When an avión closes the doors and begins the engine ignition process, it is considered a cycle, since it begins its pressurization processón focused on the interior of the airplane cabinóI don't know “sit down” at a flight level higher than the height from which you take off, ajustando la provisionón the oxígeno and allowing passengers to travel más cómodes, relaxed and confident.

Every time a pressurization is generatedón, The entire fuselage of the aircraft goes through greater and stronger changes than it couldíwe say it is a “widening” O “stretching” of the fuselage, which in the long run generateá a wear and tear of the entire structure, determined by the manufacturer as time mámaximum of use.

In this wear and tear of the structure,ígenerate cracks or damageñpotentially dangerous for the operationón, which generates that leaving them forever on the ground is mandatory.

¿Whaté it is done with an avión retired?

It all depends on the ownerñthat of each aircraft. as you possibly know, some planes are typical of the aerolíneas and others are leased, I decided itón of whaté make dependá from them.

within this point, the options mácommon s are:

  • Send him to a desert like Mohave where the planes wait for a new ownerñof si aún they have life left úto, rest under the sun until the end of your daysíor be sold in parts.
  • Dismantle it directly, what it means to sell all the pieces and parts (más de 350 one thousand) that toúThey don't have a life úuseful such as seats and the rest of the aircraftón sell it to become a beer can.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

7 thoughts on “How long can a plane keep flying??”

  1. maybe you know him, since you are in this environment.
    But it's very easy to find:
    An example
    ” Sir travel blog Argentina”
    Perhaps the information that he manages ( which is very profuse) , I can serve you.
    Kind regards.

  2. Good morning Nicholas:
    First time I enter the site, and it is really a pleasure to read these texts.
    And although you are neither a technician nor an aeronautical engineer, the content is truthful and quite easy to understand even for readers who do not belong to the Sector and who do not know the subject. It is noted that there has been a conscientious research work.
    It is good to know that in this environment there are still people prepared. Because lately there are characters that do not show much pride in aeronautical work.
    Without going further, here in Argentina a character who proclaims himself as a travel guru writes a blog, a being that has “climbed on the horse” of the Aviation, with certain bizarre and narcissistic characteristics:
    1) The title of Pilot is arrogated ( and takes photos in as many cabins as they allow, with Aviator glasses and cap included). It is doubted that he has not piloted more than a single engine, that is to say, he is a private pilot.
    1 bis) with this resume, answers his readers about airplanes and gives his opinion from experience, as if he had been Tom Cruise piloting an F14 in Top Gun.
    2) Noble title of Sir is arrogated, and has a retinue of sycophants who “they scream”( writing) “Genius, you are the most, sos a big(a large), never die, you are the best” and other things like that. Food for your narcissism.
    3) He is an insatiable person who lives after the search for the advertising exchange without any itching: apart from flirting with the state flag airline and with another of Chilean origin, also ventures with banks, Credit cards, hamburgueserias, restaurants and cafeterias of airports and cities of the world, solar thermotank companies,local and foreign pizzerias, mozzarella cheese factories near your home, and even now ( and for its inactivity as almost all domestic flights in our country are canceled), is dedicating itself to road testing vehicles from large Mercosur firms !! You should see the nonsense he says, with total ignorance of mechanics and automotive maintenance. But still, the followers continue to fawn over him.
    4) knows everything. He is the King of Google. And what he doesn't know he invents. u guiding phrase is ” if I don't win it, I tie it to you”: it's obnoxious.
    5) As soon as he smells a reader who knows the same or more than him and dares to comment on something, automatically discriminates against or discredits, and has even blocked them ( the phrase is ” This blog is not for you” and then eject).
    6) Laughs at older or humble people, that you do not use Credit or Debit electronically via Home Banking and that , old-fashioned, pay in cash at express collection points.
    6bis) Misogynist, denigrates even the mothers of his daughter's schoolmates, laughing at women who were unaware of the use of the Internet for Teleescuela tasks.
    7) lousy writer, but he doesn't care about learning language and improving his writing ( to happen that many people let him know). Has little respect for the educated reader , considering that he earns his living thanks to writing.
    8) Belongs to a type of average citizen of our lands that are overvalued, and they haven't really studied, they haven't even tried, nor have they dedicated themselves to anything in particular.
    A speculator who abuses free blogs and Youtube ( more Instagram and others like that) , of which are seen every day more on the internet.
    8 bis) At check-in or boarding,boasts of passing first as Priority, and sometimes he has even used his little daughter as an excuse to come in and sit down first. Other times he has achieved that ” privilege” ( ?) thanks to advertising exchanges with its sponsors.
    I think that attitude is silly., since a cabin quickly fills with people and then when going down, everyone arrives at the destination at the same time( even if they try to save time getting up from the seat even with the aircraft taxiing and without having reached the Terminal yet).
    9) I have noticed the same treatment with a young man who has studied Economics and who is dedicated to talking about used cars on YouTube, but don't know how to replace a spark plug. The common denominator in all is that if you write something from your knowledge or experience ( I am technician), in disagreement or trying to correct some misconception or unclear, they refute you because they feel like know-it-alls. Debunking is instant, and they do not stop writing endless monologues to convince that they are perfect and have the last word.
    10) All this denotes a problem of national idiosyncrasy, therefore you could take advantage and follow this advice: ” What is the best business in the world?
    ” Buy an Argentine for what it is really worth, and sell it for what he says it's worth…”
    That is not the case of you in Ecuador !
    I don't know if this was the right place to express it, but I needed to do catharsis in a nice place, That's why I appreciate the time you've spent reading me and the Kylobites you've lent me to host all this.

    And also thanks for the information..
    A hug and success in the task.
    see you forever

    1. Hello Daniel, Thank you for your comment and contribution to this blog.. About what you tell me about Sir, each of us who try to contribute on web pages like nlarenas.com have our own style, our way of carrying things and even how to write and answer. sir i know, We have run into some international events and he has seemed like a very cool guy and open to sharing his experience, in fact, He has a lot to do with why I have encouraged myself to start the blog.

      welcome to this space.

      1. Hi Nicolas, thanks for your answer.
        It is neither more nor less than:
        “The wolf in sheep's clothing”.
        Everything I have written to you is true. Not because I say so, expressed by hundreds of dissatisfied readers for his arrogant treatment ( “I write since 1995”).
        Thanks to his arrogance we have migrated and met other blogs of more educated people, kind and friendly.
        and now yours.
        I repeat you, it is a pleasure to read all your material, and from the knowledge of aviation, a form of communication is glimpsed that, evidently, it shows very well the type of human being who is who writes.
        An aeronautical saludo, with rudder and power up for the after the pandemic !!
        Big hug from Argentina

  3. excellent explanation, there we must also consider that as in every machine, Much will also depend on the quality of maintenance and the fatigue to which it has been subjected in its daily life.. Another spectrum to consider is the economic one., that is to say, to what extent is its use profitable compared to the new aircraft coming onto the market, this could retire them earlier as has happened with the 747 and the 380.

Scroll to Top